Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe
Abstract Adverting biodiversity loss is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. The ongoing amphibian extinction crisis is the result of a multitude of factors, with emerging infectious diseases having played a key role. While extensive contributions have been made to study chytrid fungi and...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06460-5 |
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| author | Philipp Böning Tobias Hildwein Viktoria Ferner Jonas Henn Eva Kappe Jesse Erens Benjamin Lamp Tobias Eisenberg Amadeus Plewnia |
| author_facet | Philipp Böning Tobias Hildwein Viktoria Ferner Jonas Henn Eva Kappe Jesse Erens Benjamin Lamp Tobias Eisenberg Amadeus Plewnia |
| author_sort | Philipp Böning |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Adverting biodiversity loss is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. The ongoing amphibian extinction crisis is the result of a multitude of factors, with emerging infectious diseases having played a key role. While extensive contributions have been made to study chytrid fungi and ranaviruses in the last two decades, other amphibian pathogens have remained largely unstudied. Here, we evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution of Bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe, a pathogen capable infecting true toads (family Bufonidae). Using molecular detection and histology, we identified seven new BfHV1 positive sites in Germany and a first record for Luxembourg. Phylogenetic analysis of samples from these sites revealed a monophyletic cluster with the known BfHV1 reference sequences. Through additional systematic examination of photographic records from citizen scientists, we identified 229 BfHV1 cases (62 positive, 167 suspicious) in the genus Bufo (B. bufo, B. spinosus), with suspicious cases being widespread across Europe and dating back until at least 2007. As such, this first continental assessment suggests that BfHV1 has been rather overlooked than being recently emerging. Yet, in view of increasing observations of population declines in bufonids across Europe, additional research is warranted to assess its effects on amphibian populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36be1043f8f0437c8a20e85f263b803f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-36be1043f8f0437c8a20e85f263b803f2025-08-20T03:27:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-011511710.1038/s41598-025-06460-5Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in EuropePhilipp Böning0Tobias Hildwein1Viktoria Ferner2Jonas Henn3Eva Kappe4Jesse Erens5Benjamin Lamp6Tobias Eisenberg7Amadeus Plewnia8Biogeography Department, Trier UniversityBiogeography Department, Trier UniversityBiogeography Department, Trier UniversityBiogeography Department, Trier UniversityDepartment of pathology, Bavarian Animal Health ServiceBiogeography Department, Trier UniversityInstitute of Virology, Justus Liebig University GiessenHessian State LaboratoryBiogeography Department, Trier UniversityAbstract Adverting biodiversity loss is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. The ongoing amphibian extinction crisis is the result of a multitude of factors, with emerging infectious diseases having played a key role. While extensive contributions have been made to study chytrid fungi and ranaviruses in the last two decades, other amphibian pathogens have remained largely unstudied. Here, we evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution of Bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe, a pathogen capable infecting true toads (family Bufonidae). Using molecular detection and histology, we identified seven new BfHV1 positive sites in Germany and a first record for Luxembourg. Phylogenetic analysis of samples from these sites revealed a monophyletic cluster with the known BfHV1 reference sequences. Through additional systematic examination of photographic records from citizen scientists, we identified 229 BfHV1 cases (62 positive, 167 suspicious) in the genus Bufo (B. bufo, B. spinosus), with suspicious cases being widespread across Europe and dating back until at least 2007. As such, this first continental assessment suggests that BfHV1 has been rather overlooked than being recently emerging. Yet, in view of increasing observations of population declines in bufonids across Europe, additional research is warranted to assess its effects on amphibian populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06460-5Wildlife-only diseaseBufonidsBatravirusCitizen scienceAmphibian crisis |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Böning Tobias Hildwein Viktoria Ferner Jonas Henn Eva Kappe Jesse Erens Benjamin Lamp Tobias Eisenberg Amadeus Plewnia Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe Scientific Reports Wildlife-only disease Bufonids Batravirus Citizen science Amphibian crisis |
| title | Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe |
| title_full | Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe |
| title_short | Assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) in Europe |
| title_sort | assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of bufonid herpesvirus 1 bfhv1 in europe |
| topic | Wildlife-only disease Bufonids Batravirus Citizen science Amphibian crisis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06460-5 |
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